China holiday spending tops pre-pandemic levels ========== Chinese tourists spent nearly 54 billion yuan (US$7.5 billion) on 119 million trips within the country during the recent three-day break, marking the first time that per-trip holiday spending has topped pre-pandemic levels. The travel data indicates recovering consumption sentiment in China's economy after three years of harsh COVID-19 rules. The number of domestic trips during the recent holiday rose 11.5 percent compared to 2019. Chinese tourists also made 2.42 million cross-border trips, up 102 percent from 2023. Foreigners made 500,000 trips across the border, a surge of 163 percent. China has been trying to attract foreign visitors recently by allowing visa-free entry for travelers from a growing list of countries and making digital payments easier to use. #China #HolidaySpending #Tourism #Covid19 #Economy https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/3/215143/China-holiday-spending-tops-pre-pandemic-levels